dependent clausenoun [ C ]
uk/dɪˌpen.dənt ˈklɔːz/us/dɪˌpen.dənt ˈklɑːz/specializedin grammar, a clause that cannot form a separate sentence but can form a sentence when joined with a main clause
Synonym
subordinate clause
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: grammatical terms
- ablative
- apposition
- attributive
- collocate
- comparative
- declension
- decline
- double negative
- grammar
- grammarian
- grammatical
- independent clause
- indirect object
- indirect question
- inflect
- interrogative
- modifier
- plurality
- reflexive
- superlative
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Examples from literature
- After a verb of wishing, the subjunctive is regularly used in the dependent clause.
- He does not giggle nor prattle, nor launch into a long and involved explanation with halting, dependent clauses.
- In Latin the law of tense sequence is obeyed with considerable regularity, especially when an indicative in the principal clause is followed by a subjunctive in the dependent clause.
- The subjunctive is used in a dependent clause to express the purpose of the action in the principal clause.
- The tense of the verb in a dependent clause varies with the tense of the principal verb:as, I know he will come.